Lost for words - More Last Minute Misery for Heath

It was a case of dejavu for the second week running as Heath lost out with the final kick of the game to lose a match they should have had in the bag after dominating for large parts of the game. Yorkshire 2 side West Leeds elected to play with a strong wind at their backs and as Ezra Hinchliffe kicked off the home sides response was to hoof the ball down the full length of the field to put Heath under immediate pressure. From the lineout the home side continued to attack and were rewarded with a penalty after 3 minutes and fly half Dale Breakwell converted for the home side, 3- 0. Heath's response was immediate with Zac Dewhirst prominent in their first real attack. With Hinchliffe, Chris Moore and Jack Sheldrake in support up popped Mark Puttick to go over the try line but as he was held he managed to pop the ball out to Hamish Pratt for an unconverted try but 5- 3 to Heath after 6 minutes. The home side went back onto the attack and missed a penalty on 9 minutes but Heath's pack were beginning to dictate play and as Olly Cook charged for the line in support was Pratt and Moore but it was flanker Stephen Hare who ended up with a second try on 19 minutes and Heath were in control 10- 3. West Leeds were under constant pressure and continued to give away penalties as they tried to cope with the Heath onslaught. Eventually they lost influential Number 8 Sam Warren on 30 minutes. More penalties from West Leeds and the referee could and perhaps should have sin-binned more home players but instead only a penalty from Hinchliffe on 32 minutes saw the score go to 13- 3 was Heath reward. However, on 37 minutes Heath had a relapse and conceded a try in the corner from wing Nat Browne, converted by Breakwel ,13 -10 and the visitors despite being in charge for most of the half had let the home side in as half time came. Just before the whistle Darren Neilly was sin binned so Heath began the second half with 14 players. From the restart it was Matt Hallett, Heath full back, who did exactly the same when he received the kick from the restart and booted the ball full length but West Leeds, bouyed by the scoreline were full of confidence and wing Danny Booth ran three quarters of the field before being bundled into touch. From a scrum to the home side the ball came out to full back Scott Evans to go over for an unconverted try and put West Leeds in front 15-13 after 45 minutes. Un-detered back came Heath, more strongly, with runs from Hallett, Josh Lister and Alex Cust but they could not break through a resolute defence. On 50 minutes, however, from a scum 5 metres out the visiting pack pushed for the line and Ian Downsborough touched the ball down over the line much to the relief of the visiting supporters. However, the referee awarded no try and went for a 22 drop out to leave everyone from Heath, players and supporters alike, somewhat astonished. Tempers were becoming flared and Ewan Miller was sinbinned for a high tackle which seemed innocuous by mos, but seemed to please the home crowd who had bayed for some punishment to be given out. On the hour Nat Browne scored his second try for West Leeds to increase their lead to 20-13. Heath needed a break and this came on 64 minutes. From a home side line out Hare managed to grab the ball to go over for his second try to pull the scores level 20- 20. Two minutes later West Leeds were back in front following a penalty but Heath came straight back with Ewan Miller popping up for a try on 75 minutes for what looked like a winning score of 25-13. Heath needed to just hold on to the ball and wind the clock down but from West Leeds' last attack of the game the referee awarded a penalty for offside in front of the posts and Breakwell had the easiest of chances to convert and put the home side into the semi finals with a 26- 25 victory. This match should have gone Heaths way and they will be hugely disappointed again with having yet another victory snatched from their grasps in the last minute. Now they must turn their sights on to Yorkshire 1 league survival with a vital home match next week against fellow strugglers Pontefract in what could be termed a must win game.